Rockwell and Champalimaud to Unveil New Hotel Bel-Air

by Ian Volner | Thursday, July 7, 2011 | 17 Comments

Hotel Bel Air

The 55-year-old Hotel Bel-Air will debut its new look this fall, as heap-big designers Alexandra Champilmaud and David Rockwell finish work on their collaborative redo of the storied Los Angeles inn.

After a full 24 months of renovations and refurbishments, the hotel is slated for an October 2011 opening, when all 103 of its newly decked-out guestrooms and suites (including 12 brand new ones) will be available for guests ready to dole out the $565-minimum per-night rate.

Hotel Bel Air

Said general manager Tim Lee, “We hope our new and returning guests will be comforted by our attention to detail in restoring the beloved iconic elements while adding contemporary touches that will elevate the guest experience.”

Among the features new to the old resort palace is a 12,000-square-foot mission-style pavilion containing special loft accommodations and amenities, including a full-service spa by swish Swiss beauty experts La Prairie. A new restaurant will also find a home on the Bel-Air campus, under the auspices of the inevitable Wolfgang Puck.

Hotel Bel Air

Word on the design from Rockwell/Champalimaud—a combo well-pitched to the Bel-Air’s reputation for old-style Hollywood glitz and glam—is that it will highlight “soft tones” in the public spaces, keeping in the spirit of the old building’s “Bel-Air pink” exterior. Likewise, the famous swans in the lake fronting the hotel, which have been circling blithely and undisturbed during the renovation, and who will now enjoy a new, energy-efficient water pump.

Hotel Bel Air

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17 comments

  1. narcisa

    Posted Friday, July 8, 2011 at 05:06 pm | Permalink

    wonderfulll

  2. patricia king

    Posted Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 04:58 pm | Permalink

    The rooms are beautiful.

  3. patricia king

    Posted Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 05:00 pm | Permalink

    The colour scheme is excellent.

  4. karen howard

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 03:42 pm | Permalink

    Fabulous!! Love those Eames conference chairs from before the Hotel’s original debut

  5. leslie shapiro

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 03:59 pm | Permalink

    I agree. Hotel Bel Air was quaint, charming and colorful, and now it looks like just another “regency redux.” “Modernization” should not be applied to every space; the strength of this hotel was its traditional beauty.

    Perhaps it’s better in person.
    Blech.

  6. Eric Carson

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 04:05 pm | Permalink

    I hear the ProLine Drain by Quick Drain USA that was specified adds a beautiful design element to all of the showers at the newly re-furbished Hotel Bel-Air!

    Eric Carson

  7. Victor Pedraz

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 04:24 pm | Permalink

    Guest rooms are pleasant but certainly not the Bel Air ‘magic’ that once existed. The promo photo shot is very ‘leggy’ with apparently all the furniture on almost identical frames. The bench at the foot of the bed very nautical and seemingly geared for assistance in rising and not pretty.

  8. SMO

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 04:32 pm | Permalink

    Truly heartbreaking. No soul whatsoever.

    Why would anyone bring in these two highly commercial firms – from New York no less – to try to create (recreate) an authentic LA experience at what was an iconic and glorious destination?

  9. Aida Flamm

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 04:48 pm | Permalink

    How Sad…the old Belair had so much charm!

    Why was this done to that Beautiful Property??

  10. kathy

    Posted Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 07:16 pm | Permalink

    I love all the rooms I have looked at. Cutting edge…where we both can enjoy it

  11. Jennifer ann de Lignieres

    Posted Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Permalink

    After staying there 9 years ago, I do agree with Aida and SMO sorry to say. However, will check it out in the fall.

  12. nancy meadows

    Posted Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 01:14 pm | Permalink

    I realize that this hotel is iconic to L.A. However, the new design is fresh and unexpected. While it’s different than what it was, it doesn’t look like the typical luxury hotel. I think it still remains true to what one would expect of the BelAir Hotel.

    Nancy Meadows

  13. Jessica

    Posted Friday, July 29, 2011 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    The Bel-Air needed a redo, however, I agree with many posts egarding the extreme look now, modern, yes, but without a doubt soul less. I grew up going to the Bel Air Hotel for special occassions, now it looks like any other modern hotel. There is not reverence to the beautiful grounds and architecture. I’ll pass.

  14. Dayle Zukor

    Posted Monday, October 10, 2011 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

    A piece of LA history was lost in the remodel of the Bel Air Hotel. Apparently this design firm chose to ignore the history of the property and make it generic ‘hotel design’ Such a shame for those of us who has lived in the neighborhood for so many years.

  15. N. DeGal

    Posted Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 02:09 pm | Permalink

    This is a very strange re-do. This is not the place to do this kind of look. It is completely incongruent with the building style and setting. It’s kind of baffling.

  16. Jeanne

    Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 05:38 pm | Permalink

    Had lunch in the ballroom last week. Everyone was just lovely. Guests commented on beautiful china pattern on the charger. Does anyone know the name of the china pattern?

  17. Tracy

    Posted Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:41 pm | Permalink

    Old Bel-Air: color, charm, unique, quirky, memorable
    Re-do: blah, monochrome, corporate, cookie-cutter, looks like another W, forgettable

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